There is another plan in the works to revive Cathedral Square with the Council asking for the public's ideas later this year

The Christchurch City Council has announced they have a budget of $28.5 million set aside to put a revitalisation plan in action.

Mayor Phil Mauger told Canterbury Mornings that he would like to put some of the money into the Christ Church Cathedral to fix it instead of only funding the redevelopment of Cathedral Square.

"Some of it could go to the Cathedral, they're crying out for it, let's not spend or waste 28 million dollars in the square when some of it could go towards the Cathedral."

They also discussed his idea to fix East Christchurch's wastewater issues, Whether or not he backs the Dux de Lux rebuild to be paid with council rates, and his thoughts on potentially bringing the Santa Parade to central Christchurch.

LISTEN ABOVE 

There is another plan in the works to revive Cathedral Square with the Council asking for the public's ideas later this year
The Christchurch City Council has announced they have a budget of $28.5 million set aside to put a revitalisation plan in action.
Mayor Phil Mauger told Canterbury Mornings that he would like to put some of the money into the Christ Church Cathedral to fix it instead of only funding the redevelopment of Cathedral Square.
"Some of it could go to the Cathedral, they're crying out for it, let's not spend or waste 28 million dollars in the square when some of it could go towards the Cathedral."
They also discussed his idea to fix East Christchurch's wastewater issues, Whether or not he backs the Dux de Lux rebuild to be paid with council rates, and his thoughts on potentially bringing the Santa Parade to central Christchurch.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio.

With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector.

Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Phil Mauger: Christchurch Mayor on his Wastewater plan, Cathedral Square Revitalisation, and Dux de Lux funding

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3e91757d-ccbf-4167-8cf3-b40a0165a12f/transcript

Three hundred and fifty jobs at Heinz Wattie's are on the line and we’ve only got ourselves to blame. 

I’m including myself here. 

Because all of us have pretty much fallen into the trap of thinking cheapest is best. 

And, more often than not, if we think cheapest is best then we end up buying stuff from overseas and turning our backs on local products. 

Before now, I've never really signed up to that whole buy New Zealand made thing. There have been various campaigns over recent years, haven’t there? With the little buy New Zealand made tags and things. 

But hearing the news about Wattie's and thinking about the cheap fruit being dumped in New Zealand from China and the impact that alone has had on the company, I had a bit of an aha moment. 

That we really need to think seriously about the stuff we buy and where it comes from. 

I think buying New Zealand made probably matters more now than ever.    

The jobs at Heinz Wattie's are set to go because the company has plans to shut down three New Zealand factories. 

Frozen vegetables are one of Wattie's products that will disappear if the closures go ahead, with the company saying that it just can’t compete with cheaper products being imported from overseas. 

So, it’s the fruit thing all over again. 

Which raises the question: does New Zealand-made matter anymore? 

If I'm honest, I don’t think it does matter to most people. But i think it should.  

Because, as well as the 350 workers affected, there are also around 220 growers in the canterbury region alone who supply the Christchurch site.  

So they’ll be very worried too. 

And it’s not just Wattie's we’re talking about, either. 

As the union that represents the Wattie's workers is saying today, manufacturing closures are becoming more and more common. 

Other companies that have wound back their manufacturing here in New Zealand recently include carter Holt Harvey, Sealord in Nelson and Kinleith pulp and paper.  

And the people affected by these proposed closures have Wattie's in their blood. The average length of service is around 30 years. So it’s probably fairly safe to assume that there will be generations of families who have worked at Wattie's. 

Union delegate Kathy Perrin has worked at Heinz Wattie's for 46 years in different roles and is saying today that the impact on workers will be devastating. 

We might say we care about buying products made here but, when it comes down to it, I don’t think we actually do. 

But how important is New Zealand made to you? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Three hundred and fifty jobs at Heinz Wattie's are on the line and we’ve only got ourselves to blame.&nbsp;
I’m including myself here.&nbsp;
Because all of us have pretty much fallen into the trap of thinking cheapest is best.&nbsp;
And, more often than not, if we think cheapest is best then we end up buying stuff from overseas and turning our backs on local products.&nbsp;
Before now, I've never really signed up to that whole buy New Zealand made thing. There have been various campaigns over recent years, haven’t there? With the little buy New Zealand made tags and things.&nbsp;
But hearing the news about Wattie's and thinking about the cheap fruit being dumped in New Zealand from China and the impact that alone has had on the company, I had a bit of an aha moment.&nbsp;
That we really need to think seriously about the stuff we buy and where it comes from.&nbsp;
I think buying New Zealand made probably matters more now than ever. &nbsp; &nbsp;
The jobs at Heinz Wattie's are set to go because the company has plans to shut down three New Zealand factories.&nbsp;
Frozen vegetables are one of Wattie's products that will disappear if the closures go ahead, with the company saying that it just can’t compete with cheaper products being imported from overseas.&nbsp;
So, it’s the fruit thing all over again.&nbsp;
Which raises the question: does New Zealand-made matter anymore?&nbsp;
If I'm honest, I don’t think it does matter to most people. But i think it should. &nbsp;
Because, as well as the 350 workers affected, there are also around 220 growers in the canterbury region alone who supply the Christchurch site. &nbsp;
So they’ll be very worried too.&nbsp;
And it’s not just Wattie's we’re talking about, either.&nbsp;
As the union that represents the Wattie's workers is saying today, manufacturing closures are becoming more and more common.&nbsp;
Other companies that have wound back their manufacturing here in New Zealand recently include carter Holt Harvey, Sealord in Nelson and Kinleith pulp and paper. &nbsp;
And the people affected by these proposed closures have Wattie's in their blood. The average length of service is around 30 years. So it’s probably fairly safe to assume that there will be generations of families who have worked at Wattie's.&nbsp;
Union delegate Kathy Perrin has worked at Heinz Wattie's for 46 years in different roles and is saying today that the impact on workers will be devastating.&nbsp;
We might say we care about buying products made here but, when it comes down to it, I don’t think we actually do.&nbsp;
But how important is New Zealand made to you?&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Buying NZ made has never been so important

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f8f3f8a7-8765-4884-a383-b40a0182366a/transcript

I don’t think there’ll be too many complaints about the report from phase two of the COVID inquiry.

Because, for $14 million, we’ve all got something out of it. That’s $14 million for this phase. Phase one cost us about $17 million.  

If you’re anti-vax or vaccine-weary, you’ve got the bit in the report about officials not telling ministers that 12 to 17-year-olds shouldn't really have been getting two doses of the vaccine. Because of the risk of myocarditis.  

That was an absolute shocker that one.  

If you think Jacinda was a saint and saved us all, you’re probably having a bit of a “told you so” moment.  

Irrespective of how patronising she and her ministers got the longer the pandemic went on, you’ll be having your “told you so” moment because the report says, overall, New Zealand's approach was good.  

If you think the Government got it wrong thinking that the team of five million would stick together no matter what, you’ll be happy with the report too. 

Because it says some of the mandates went on too long, and the Government failed to communicate well enough with us.  

In fact, i can’t think of anyone who won’t feel they’ve got at least something out of it. 

Except NZ First Leader Winston peters, perhaps. 

He says many people think the inquiry has been one-sided and the damage is done. 

The damage he’s talking about there is the damage from the mandates. 

He says: “The employment and wage-scarring impacts of the mandates were significant. The Labour Government made no attempt to monitor these impacts and the devastating results that would come to our country. 

“These mandates and lockdowns cost thousands of jobs and had a devastating effect on our economy and people’s health and livelihoods - all of which were avoidable.”

And I agree with him that not enough thought was given about the long-term consequences of the mandates. Which, at the time, I supported. 

Winston Peters says: “the report brings questions that need to be answered by Hipkins and Verrall and all those other former ministers. They cannot brush this off.”

One of those former ministers, Chris Hipkins, said on Newstalk ZB this morning that he doesn‘t think his involvement in the COVID response and the findings of the inquiry will put people off voting for him.    

And I agree with him. Anyone who holds a grudge now will always hold a grudge. And there’s nothing Chris Hipkins can do to change that.  

LISTEN ABOVE

I don’t think there’ll be too many complaints about the report from phase two of the COVID inquiry.
Because, for $14 million, we’ve all got something out of it. That’s $14 million for this phase. Phase one cost us about $17 million. &nbsp;
If you’re anti-vax or vaccine-weary, you’ve got the bit in the report about officials not telling ministers that 12 to 17-year-olds shouldn't really have been getting two doses of the vaccine. Because of the risk of myocarditis. &nbsp;
That was an absolute shocker that one. &nbsp;
If you think Jacinda was a saint and saved us all, you’re probably having a bit of a “told you so” moment. &nbsp;
Irrespective of how patronising she and her ministers got the longer the pandemic went on, you’ll be having your “told you so” moment because the report says, overall, New Zealand's approach was good. &nbsp;
If you think the Government got it wrong thinking that the team of five million would stick together no matter what, you’ll be happy with the report too.&nbsp;
Because it says some of the mandates went on too long, and the Government failed to communicate well enough with us. &nbsp;
In fact, i can’t think of anyone who won’t feel they’ve got at least something out of it.&nbsp;
Except NZ First Leader Winston peters, perhaps.&nbsp;
He says many people think the inquiry has been one-sided and the damage is done.&nbsp;
The damage he’s talking about there is the damage from the mandates.&nbsp;
He says: “The employment and wage-scarring impacts of the mandates were significant. The Labour Government made no attempt to monitor these impacts and the devastating results that would come to our country.&nbsp;
“These mandates and lockdowns cost thousands of jobs and had a devastating effect on our economy and people’s health and livelihoods - all of which were avoidable.”
And I agree with him that not enough thought was given about the long-term consequences of the mandates. Which, at the time, I supported.&nbsp;
Winston Peters says: “the report brings questions that need to be answered by Hipkins and Verrall and all those other former ministers. They cannot brush this off.”
One of those former ministers, Chris Hipkins, said on Newstalk ZB this morning that he doesn‘t think his involvement in the COVID response and the findings of the inquiry will put people off voting for him. &nbsp; &nbsp;
And I agree with him. Anyone who holds a grudge now will always hold a grudge. And there’s nothing Chris Hipkins can do to change that. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Covid report has something for everyone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e15ad50d-3078-42d4-a739-b4090180ef6a/transcript

The rubber is hitting the road for us here in New Zealand with fuel prices on the up because of the situation in the Middle East. 

The Taxpayers’ Union hasn’t been slow in coming forward, saying the government should be cutting its fuel taxes. Temporarily, anyway. 

It says households shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the full cost of global instability. 

It’s spokesman Jordan Williams is saying that people are already struggling with the cost of living and the government needs to wear some of the burden rather than lumping it all on motorists. 

I get his argument and, more to the point, it’s not just motorists who are impacted. Everyone is impacted because the price of fuel pretty much impacts the price of everything. 

Nevertheless, thank goodness the government hasn’t jumped on the kneejerk reaction bandwagon with this one. With finance minister Nicola Willis saying that won’t be happening. 

Which makes perfect sense. For several reasons. 

The main one being timing. 

We’re only a week or so into this war and who knows what’s going to be happening this time next week or two weeks from now. 

And that’s the job of a government in times like these. Don’t panic and see where things go. 

Especially, when there’s the potential for the G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States - to release some of the fuel they keep up their sleeve for times like these. 

They decided overnight that that doesn’t need to happen right now. But they’re due to have another think about later this week. 

The Automobile Association’s principal policy adviser terry Collins has been warning that petrol prices could get close to $4 a litre. 

I think the likelihood of that has diminished and good on the government for holding its nerve. 

Tell that to Labour leader Chris Hipkins, though. 

He says back in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, his government heard about people not being able to afford the petrol they needed to get to work. 

At that point, a litre of petrol cost $3. 

Chris Hipkins says: “Once fuel inflation reached that point where people couldn’t afford to go to work, because they couldn’t afford to fill up the car, we made the decision at that point that the immediate priority was providing support to New Zealand households.” 

And he wants to see the same thing happen again. 

I don’t - and I think the government’s made the right move. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The rubber is hitting the road for us here in New Zealand with fuel prices on the up because of the situation in the Middle East.&nbsp;
The Taxpayers’ Union hasn’t been slow in coming forward, saying the government should be cutting its fuel taxes. Temporarily, anyway.&nbsp;
It says households shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the full cost of global instability.&nbsp;
It’s spokesman Jordan Williams is saying that people are already struggling with the cost of living and the government needs to wear some of the burden rather than lumping it all on motorists.&nbsp;
I get his argument and, more to the point, it’s not just motorists who are impacted. Everyone is impacted because the price of fuel pretty much impacts the price of everything.&nbsp;
Nevertheless, thank goodness the government hasn’t jumped on the kneejerk reaction bandwagon with this one. With finance minister Nicola Willis saying that won’t be happening.&nbsp;
Which makes perfect sense. For several reasons.&nbsp;
The main one being timing.&nbsp;
We’re only a week or so into this war and who knows what’s going to be happening this time next week or two weeks from now.&nbsp;
And that’s the job of a government in times like these. Don’t panic and see where things go.&nbsp;
Especially, when there’s the potential for the G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States - to release some of the fuel they keep up their sleeve for times like these.&nbsp;
They decided overnight that that doesn’t need to happen right now. But they’re due to have another think about later this week.&nbsp;
The Automobile Association’s principal policy adviser terry Collins has been warning that petrol prices could get close to $4 a litre.&nbsp;
I think the likelihood of that has diminished and good on the government for holding its nerve.&nbsp;
Tell that to Labour leader Chris Hipkins, though.&nbsp;
He says back in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, his government heard about people not being able to afford the petrol they needed to get to work.&nbsp;
At that point, a litre of petrol cost $3.&nbsp;
Chris Hipkins says: “Once fuel inflation reached that point where people couldn’t afford to go to work, because they couldn’t afford to fill up the car, we made the decision at that point that the immediate priority was providing support to New Zealand households.”&nbsp;
And he wants to see the same thing happen again.&nbsp;
I don’t - and I think the government’s made the right move.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Now is not the time to cut fuel taxes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cc8052f4-2f08-4b28-81ca-b408017fbc06/transcript

Phil Mauger: Christchurch Mayor on his Wastewater plan, Cathedral Square Revitalisation, and Dux de Lux funding

In 1 playlist(s)

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips